Is Minichiello a modern day great ?

[Guest]

After reading Dean Ritchie's article in the Tele about Del Piero & Mini, he described Del Piero as a true sporting superstar, I can agree. He also stated Mini was a modern day great. I wasn't sure how that sat with me & when I think of these two guys, it;s like chalk & cheese but I don't want to denigrate what Mini has achieved over the past years as he has been a great servant to the club and to the Nrl, however is he a "Modern day great" ?

Where do you think he sits in the fullback echelons over the past decade ? And more over, where does he sit as a Nrl player over the past decade. Would he make the top 10 in any category ? Would that make him a Modern day great ?

Dingo.

[Guest]

After reading Dean Ritchie's article in the Tele about Del Piero & Mini, he described Del Piero as a true sporting superstar, I can agree. He also stated Mini was a modern day great. I wasn't sure how that sat with me & when I think of these two guys, it;s like chalk & cheese but I don't want to denigrate what Mini has achieved over the past years as he has been a great servant to the club and to the Nrl, however is he a "Modern day great" ?

Where do you think he sits in the fullback echelons over the past decade ? And more over, where does he sit as a Nrl player over the past decade. Would he make the top 10 in any category ? Would that make him a Modern day great ?

Dingo.

Once again, The Daily Telegraph taking any opportunity they can to badmouth the Roosters and our players. They've hated us since Super League and all they do is bag us and our players...

Mini is certainly a modern day great - I think almost anyone who wins a Golden Boot can be referred to as such, but he is tarnishing his legacy by playing on. I fear that he will suffer the ignominy of being tapped on the shoulder and forced to pull the pin at some stage next season

[Guest]

Once again, The Daily Telegraph taking any opportunity they can to badmouth the Roosters and our players. They've hated us since Super League and all they do is bag us and our players...

Mini is certainly a modern day great - I think almost anyone who wins a Golden Boot can be referred to as such, but he is tarnishing his legacy by playing on. I fear that he will suffer the ignominy of being tapped on the shoulder and forced to pull the pin at some stage next season

Seeing the light tones, well done. We'll make a Rooster supporter out of you yet.

Mini was a modern day great...5 modern years ago. He'll embarrass himself and us in 2013.

Chook.

[Guest]

Only thread I've seen on here that we all agree on. Hang up the boots count. My fear is mini will hang in there like a mike Tyson type character & it can only end ugly

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Yes - he is.

[Guest]

ha. the dingo's stint didnt last long. multiple accounts on the one ip address, chris?

[ism22]

Context and definition are all. One might think he is a modern day great if the consider:
1) He was the world's best player a decade ago.
2) After what he's been through he's still a solid run of the mill fullback, which says something in itself.
3) He's still playing and is probably one of the NRL's most decorated players.

He's not if:
1) You judge him purely on current form.
2) Don't rate his past achievements.
3) Believe he doesn't weigh up with guys like Slater (and wouldn't have in his day.)

[Guest]

Context and definition are all. One might think he is a modern day great if the consider:
1) He was the world's best player a decade ago.
2) After what he's been through he's still a solid run of the mill fullback, which says something in itself.
3) He's still playing and is probably one of the NRL's most decorated players.

He's not if:
1) You judge him purely on current form.
2) Don't rate his past achievements.
3) Believe he doesn't weigh up with guys like Slater (and wouldn't have in his day.)

regarding slater specifically, no one does, or ever has

[Guest]

regarding slater specifically, no one does, or ever has

Lockyer was as good a fullback as Slater..

[Guest]

Lockyer was as good a fullback as Slater..

disagree, Lockyer was a true great no doubt, but I think his best days were at 5/8

Slater is a complete freak

[Guest]

disagree, Lockyer was a true great no doubt, but I think his best days were at 5/8

Slater is a complete freak

Disagree..

Lockyer was equally as effective at 1 as 6..

The fact that he moved means peoples memories of what he did at the back fade..

I tender the 2000 GF as evidence..

I can't separate Lockyer,Slater & Changa as the best custodian i've seen..

[ism22]

regarding slater specifically, no one does, or ever has

Like most sports I think it's about the man of the moment.

Mini's top form was enough to bag him a GF, international player of the year, origin success and a range of international honours.

He was player of the year once... Slater has also been player of the year once (in a different, but modern era.)

At his best, Mini was the world's best.

[Guest]

Ironic that a good thread has been started by a troll....

On topic. Mini is a modern day great imo. Best player in the world, beating out the likes of Johns, Fittler, Lockyer etc etc. Coming back from what he has come back from to play NRL speaks volumes about his character, regardless how well he is doing it.. He plays week in week out in the highlest of level of club Rugby League while the rest of sit in our arm chairs and slag him. He is a great off the field (minus 1 major blow up). Played for his state and country (2 countries LOL).

At his best he isn't as good as Slater though, but who is/was?

Lockyer was nowhere near the fullback that Billy Slater is. Lockyer is a more complete footballer than Slater and obviously as 5/8 brings as much if not more than Slater to a team.

[Guest]

disagree, Lockyer was a true great no doubt, but I think his best days were at 5/8

Slater is a complete freak

Smith is the freak, Slater and Cronk are the beneficiaries. Without Smith Storm were flogged in the GF, Australia lost the world cup and Qld can't beat Nsw. If Slater was the freak you speak of why can't he bring it home without Cameron?

[Guest]

regarding slater specifically, no one does, or ever has

Hayne and Lockeyer both can and have single handedly won games, Slater cannot!